Household Hazardous Waste

What is "HHW"?

Leftover household products that contain
corrosive, toxic, ignitable, or reactive ingredients are considered to be
"household hazardous waste" or "HHW." Products that contain
potentially hazardous ingredients require special care when you dispose of
them.

Why it is illegal to toss them in the garbage?

Americans
generate 1.6 million tons of HHW per year.

The
average home can accumulate as much as 100 pounds of household hazardous waste.

According to the EPA and the N.J. Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), disposal of
these materials in a landfill poses a serious hazard to human health as well as
to the environment.

Therefore, all N.J. residents are prohibited by law from
disposing of any amount of HHW as garbage.

Recycle all Rechargeable Batteries

Due to regulatory changes collection practices will now change for Essex County residents.

Recycle all Rechargeable Batteries.

The label on the battery will indicate if it is rechargeable.

For
increased safety when transporting rechargeable batteries, residents
must either individually bag each battery or place a piece of tape on
each of the terminal ends as shown in the picture.

Most
button cell batteries still contain mercury. These batteries can be
brought to Essex County's Household Hazardous Waste collection events.

Rechargeable
batteries may be recycled at the following locations: Radio Shack (in
Verona), Staples (in Cedar Grove), Best Buy, Target, Office Max, Lowes,
Home Depot, Sears, Wal-Mart and Verizon Wireless.

To find
the retail collection site nearest you, go to www.rbrc.org or call the
consumer helpline, 1-800-8-BATTERY or 1-877-2-RECYCLE.